The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 4 eBook

the heavy burden. I hear also the diverse sounds
made by the men who are driving the bulls. Such
sounds are incapable of being heard by a creature
that like us has taken his birth in the order of worms.
It is for this reason that I am flying from this situation
of great fright. Death is felt by all creatures
to be fraught with pain. Life is an acquisition
difficult to make. Hence, I fly away in fear,
I do not wish to pass from a state of happiness to
one of woe.’

“Bhishma continued, ’Thus addressed, the
Island-born Vyasa said, ’O worm, whence can
be thy happiness? Thou belongest to the inter-mediate
order of being. I think, death would be fraught
with happiness to thee! Sound, touch, taste,
scent, and diverse kinds of excellent enjoyments are
unknown to thee, O worm! I think, death will prove
a benefit to thee!’

“The worm said, ’A living creature, in
whatever situation he may be placed, becomes attached
to it. In even this order of being I am happy,
I think, O thou of great wisdom! It is for this
that I wish to live. In even this condition,
every object of enjoyment exists for me according to
the needs of my body. Human beings and those creatures
that spring from immobile objects have different enjoyments.
In my former life I was a human being. O puissant
one, I was a Sudra possessed of great wealth.
I was not devoted to the Brahmanas. I was cruel,
vile in conduct, and a usurer. I was harsh in
speech. I regard cunning as wisdom. I hated
all creatures. Taking advantage of pretexts in
compacts made between myself and others. I was
always given to taking away what belonged to others.
Without feeding servants and guests arrived at my house,
I used to fill, when hungry, my own stomach, under
the impulse of pride, covetous of good food.
Greedy I was of wealth, I never dedicated, with faith
and reverence, any food to the deities and the Pitris
although duty required me to dedicate food unto them.
Those men that came to me, moved by fear, for seeking
my protection, I sent adrift without giving them any
protection. I did not extend my protection to
those that came to me with prayers for dispelling
their fear. I used to feel unreasonable envy at
seeing other people’s wealth, and corn, and spouses
held dear by them, and articles of drink, and good
mansions. Beholding the happiness of others,
I was filled with envy and I always wished them poverty,
Following that course of conduct which promised to
crown my own wishes with fruition, I sought to destroy
the virtue, wealth, and pleasures of other people.
In that past life of mine, I committed diverse deeds
largely fraught with cruelty and such other passions.
Recollecting those acts I am filled with repentance
and grief even as one is filled with grief at the
loss of one’s dear son. In consequence of
these acts of mine I do not know what the fruits are
of good deeds. I, however, worshipped my old
mother and on one occasion worshipped a Brahmana.
Endued with birth and accomplishments, that Brahmana,
in course of his wanderings, came to my house once
as a guest. I received him with reverent hospitality.
In consequence of the merit attaching to that act,
my memory has not forsaken me. I think that in
consequence of that act I shall once more succeed
in regaining happiness. O thou of ascetic wealth,
thou knowest everything. Do thou in kindness
tell me what is for my good.”